This transcript covers a City Council Workshop followed by a Regular City Council meeting. Based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text, I have identified the speakers (noting that some names in the transcript, such as "Council Member Wong" and "Council Member Cole," appear to be active participants not explicitly listed in your initial context, while "Dan Wi" acts as the Finance Director). [00:00] **Jennie Kloos (City Staff):** Here. Council Member Nordby? [00:01] **Jason Nordby:** Here. [00:02] **Jennie Kloos:** Mayor Monge? [00:03] **John Monge:** Here. [To the room] There’s feedback. Yours? Careful what you wish for. All right, I’d look for a motion to adopt the agenda, please. [00:08] **Council Member Wong:** So moved, your honor. [00:09] **John Monge:** Moved by Council Member Wong. Second? [00:10] **Jason Nordby:** Second. [00:11] **John Monge:** Second by Council Member Nordby. All those in favor say Aye. [00:12] **Council Members:** Aye. [00:13] **John Monge:** Okay. Topics? [00:14] **Brian Frandle (City Manager):** Thank you, Mayor. First up is the potential development of the 2329 17th Avenue, and I'm going to turn that over to Brandy, our Community Development Director. [00:22] **Brandy (Community Development Director):** Good evening, everybody. You might recall this topic from earlier in the year when we looked at a couple of proposals on this site. Earlier this year, the city council requested additional information regarding this property at the corner of 17th and Delaware Avenue... [Brandy provides detailed history of the property and appraisal at $100,000]. We’ve basically got the two developers to choose from: KT and Andress (6 units) or High Point Group (12 units). [04:45] **Brandy:** ...The final option is to simply just sell the lot, put it on the market with a realtor. I will open it up for your discussion. [05:20] **John Monge:** Did you receive the proposal that they sent, Luther? [05:24] **Brandy:** I did not directly receive a proposal from Luther today. [05:30] **John Monge:** Okay, I saw it, but I didn't receive it in my email box. Is there any discussion or recommendations? Has planning seen this? [05:40] **Brandy:** Planning Commission has not seen this. [05:42] **Council Member Wong:** Can you speak to the density differences between R1 and R2 in the zoning ordinance? [05:47] **Brandy:** The density for the six-unit is in line with our zoning ordinance... the High Point group would be greater than what is acceptable by zoning but in line with the comp plan. [06:15] **Council Member Cole:** When a PUD is granted, can you tell me that process? Is that something we have to get input from all the neighbors? [06:22] **Brandy:** A public hearing would be required, going out to people within 350 feet of the property. [06:35] **John Monge:** I appreciate the information. I’m glad we did an appraisal so we understand what we’re dealing with here... we have 140,000 into it as a city and the value is 100,000 right now. We have to understand the value before we decide what we’re doing. [07:50] **Jason Nordby:** I agree with you, Mayor. I truly believe we need to make a decision moving forward and get this solidified. [08:05] **John Monge:** Does anybody have an opinion about the student-built home? [08:12] **Council Member Schweer:** The potential half-a-million-dollar loss is concerning to me. That’s my biggest hesitation for it. [08:25] **John Monge:** Are there alternative lots available for the student built going forward? [08:30] **Brandy:** The city owns at least one that's on 6th Street and 7th Avenue. [09:20] **John Monge:** Okay, so we rule that one out. Sixth and Seventh Avenue is a possibility. What did you call it? The "Tot Lot"? [09:35] **Brandy:** Yes, but I've heard from Public Works that it may not be the ideal location. [10:15] **Jason Nordby:** I think there are some lots to continue the student built housing... but I think both parties [developers] have waited and have been extremely patient. I think it's time we start moving forward. [11:00] **John Monge:** I’d like to get that finished. Can we agree that probably not going forward with the student housing [on this specific lot] is the way we’re going to go? [11:15] **Council Member Wong:** As long as those other lots are feasible, I don’t see why not. [11:25] **John Monge:** All right, move on to the next item. [11:30] **Jason Nordby:** Would our direction be to staff to invite them [the developers] as soon as they are both ready to present? [11:45] **Brandy:** I can definitely invite them both back in January. [12:15] **John Monge:** I mean, we were looking at a golf course and some other stuff, and then we got a different proposal of one level? [12:20] **Brandy:** That is correct. [12:35] **High Point/Luther (from Audience):** [Unintelligible/Off-mic] Our goal is to hear what you want. Do you want single family or townhomes? [12:45] **Council Member Wong:** I think the housing study showed the biggest gaps were in multiplexes or duplexes. [13:00] **John Monge:** I talked to some neighbors, and they want one level. Side-by-side one level would fit in. [14:10] **Jason Nordby:** So we're in consensus that we're removing the thought of a student build from this land? [14:20] **John Monge:** I’m in consensus. [To Brandy] Thank you, you’ve got enough to work with? [15:10] **Brandy:** I do. The next item is the property Redevelopment and disposition policy. [Brandy presents the new four-step standardized process for selling city land]. *** [23:00] **John Monge:** Call for adjournment [of workshop]. [23:05] **Council Member Cole:** So moved. [23:06] **Council Member Wong:** Second. [23:07] **John Monge:** All those in favor? [Ayes heard]. *** **[START OF REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING]** [23:15] **John Monge:** Roll call please. [23:16] **Jennie Kloos:** Council Member Cole? (Here) Council Member Schweer? (Here) Council Member Wong? (Here) Council Member Nordby? (Here) Mayor Monge? (Here). [23:25] **John Monge:** I have a motion to adopt the agenda. [23:26] **Council Member Schweer:** So moved. [23:27] **Jason Nordby:** Second. [Motion passes]. [23:45] **John Monge:** Consent agenda. [Council pulls items H, I, and J for discussion. The rest are approved.] [24:10] **John Monge:** Open to the public. 6:32 PM. John Schal, please. [24:15] **John Schal (Public Speaker):** Good evening. Again, the subject that I just harp on constantly... water conservation. People in this city need to realize what conservation is all about on their water bill. Thank you. [25:35] **John Monge:** Truth and Taxation hearing. I'll turn that over to our Finance Director, Dan Wi. [25:40] **Dan Wi (Finance Director):** Thank you, Mayor. Every year I put together this PowerPoint... the goal was to be inclusive and transparent. This budget focuses on not "kicking the can down the road." [Dan presents details of the 8.5% levy increase, impact on median homes ($137/year), and staffing additions in Public Safety]. [35:10] **John Monge:** Thank you for the report. This was my first year as Mayor and I learned a lot about fiscal disparities. [36:20] **John Schal:** This budget is not what was spoken about and agreed to at the meetings... where is the $1.1 million transfer from the electric fund? [36:45] **Dan Wi:** The Truth in Taxation is specifically about the property tax levy. The transfers will show up in the full city budget, which will be approved at the next meeting. [38:15] **John Monge:** Action Item A: Building official contract. Brandy? [38:20] **Brandy:** We issued an RFP for inspection services. We recommend moving forward with Rum River Consulting starting January 1st. [39:45] **Council Member Wong:** I have some questions based on an email... regarding inspection fees. [40:20] **Carrie (Rum River Consulting):** Good evening. To clarify, we do not charge additional fees for site inspections; those are included in our building permit fee, unlike the previous provider. [42:10] **John Monge:** Item B: Park rental policy. [42:15] **Brandy:** We looked at rental data for Casey Lake and Hausy Park. We are looking for direction on fee increases to cover operating and capital costs. [Council discusses Resident vs. Non-Resident rates]. [47:15] **Jason Nordby:** I view Casey Lake as a huge asset. I want to make sure we're taking proper care of it. [51:10] **Council Member Wong:** I like the low end here, just as a baseline to start. [52:00] **John Monge:** I'd like to see the non-resident fee increased more than $50. [56:45] **Council Member Cole:** I'm in favor of the "low" column with a $100 increase for non-residents. [1:05:00] **John Monge:** Item C: Discussion of 2024 Fee Schedule. [Brandy reviews building permit shifts with the new Rum River contract]. [1:08:15] **Council Member Wong:** Regarding National Night Out—do we want to charge the $20 fee? [1:08:20] **John Monge:** I'm for waving that fee. We want to encourage residents. [Council agrees]. [1:11:00] **Dan Wi:** Item D: Health and dental insurance savings options. We saved $170,000 by moving to United Healthcare. I recommend Option 3—reducing the transfer from the electric fund. [1:13:45] **Council Member Cole:** I like the idea of an Insurance Fund (Option 2) because we know rates will go up eventually. It buffers the city. [Council votes for Option 2]. [1:17:15] **John Monge:** Item E: Metropolitan Council Grant for private property (I&I). Morgan? [1:17:30] **Morgan Dawley (City Engineer):** This is a grant for residents to repair private sewer lines. It prevents groundwater from entering the sanitary system. [Motion passes]. [1:24:20] **Morgan Dawley:** Item F: 2024 Pavement Management. This is driven by pavement ratings for preservation. [1:25:00] **Council Member Wong:** Are sidewalks and bike lanes considered? [1:25:45] **Morgan Dawley:** Not currently in the scope for these specific maintenance overlays, but we can do a "dashboard review" to see if there are easy opportunities. [Motion passes]. [1:29:50] **Morgan Dawley:** Item G: 11th Avenue Sidewalk. This is 100% grant-funded construction. [1:33:00] **John Monge:** How are we going to make sure people can cross four lanes of traffic safely? [1:33:20] **Morgan Dawley:** We have already purchased solar-powered flashing yellow pedestrian signs for the crosswalks near the bus stops. [Motion passes]. [1:37:00] **Brian Frandle:** Department reports... PD interviews, water main break on Furness, and fire truck testing. [1:39:00] **Council Member Wong:** I wanted to talk about accountability regarding traffic safety and will continue to ask for clarification. [1:42:00] **John Monge:** Adjournment. [1:42:05] **Council Member Wong:** So moved. [1:42:06] **Council Member Schweer:** Second. [1:42:07] **John Monge:** All in favor? [Ayes heard]. Meeting adjourned.